WF Pride
Willingness and Desire to Sacrifice and Serve
Chad Cottingham
“If you ain’t first, you’re last,” shouted Will Ferrell as the character, Ricky Bobby, in the movie Talladega Nights. His daddy told him that as a child right before he sped off high and drunk from Ricky’s school. He based his whole life on the words his dad left him. Moral lessons from a Will Ferrell movie? There is a lesson everywhere when we look for it. Ricky’s journey took him to eventual life victory by learning people matter over place.
Life is competitive, and in this social media-driven era never has it been more apparent that envy and jealousy rule the decision-making process of a great many. Seek the true prize—a healthy, functioning, imperfect, sometimes suffering, sometimes flourishing…real family. Being first in some great societal competition means absolutely nothing. But when you’re 85 years old and your grandchildren are bringing your great-grandchildren to see you, and your wife is still your wife and she’s beaming with glory…you will smile with what teeth you have left, and you will know you did it right. You were always second. Excerpts taken from All Pro Dad, ‘Life is not about me’.
Life is not about me, and it’s not about you. Life is about being willing to sacrifice our own needs and wants and to serve others – to put others above ourselves. We have to serve more than we dictate, sacrifice more than we take, and we must constantly be planting the seeds of future success by placing our own needs second to those around us.
Galatians 5:13 – For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love.
Matthew 20:16 – So those who are last now will be first then, and those who are first will be last.
“Dear Lord, help us to see ways to serve and love others more. Help us to sacrifice our own selfish wants and desires and to put others first. Thank you for the ultimate example of sacrifice and love by sending your son to take our place on the cross. It’s in the name of Jesus I pray, Amen.”